Indigenous Environmental Movements and Capitalism

This set of flashcards covers key terminology and concepts related to Indigenous environmental movements, capitalism, and differing worldviews on nature.

Society-environment dualism

The idea that society and the environment are separate entities, which is not universally accepted due to alternative viewpoints such as Indigenous environmental imaginaries.

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

An Indigenous Confederacy governed by the Great Law of Peace, emphasizing collective decision-making and kinship.

Mother Earth Concept

An Indigenous perspective that views the Earth as a nurturing and supportive entity, integral to life.

Indigenous Knowledge

Understanding of the world from contemporary Indigenous perspectives, contrasting with Western views.

Feudalism

The dominant social, economic, and political system in medieval Europe, characterized by relationships derived from land ownership in exchange for service.

Environmental Imaginary

The concept that societal views of the environment are influenced by cultural norms and frameworks, often disregarding Indigenous perspectives.

Turtle Island

A term used by some Indigenous peoples referring to North America, rooted in creation stories.

Colonial logics

Frameworks and ideologies derived from colonial histories that perpetuate dispossession and marginalization of Indigenous peoples.

Great White Pine tree

A symbol of peace associated with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and social justice movements.

Primitive Accumulation

The process of separating producers from their means of production, often leading to exploitation and dispossession.

Witch Hunts

Historical persecutions largely targeting women and those seen as a threat to capitalist control, linked to the transition to capitalism.

Race and Labor Theory

Concepts that explore how racial and gender identities influence labor relations and property rights, especially under capitalism.

John Locke’s Theory of Property

The idea that property ownership arises from mixing one's labor with nature, often excluding non-Europeans and Indigenous peoples.

Enclosure Movement

The process of consolidating common lands into private ownership, disrupting traditional communal land use practices.

Necropolitics

The politics of life and death, illustrating how power structures shape the conditions under which individuals live and die.

Environmental Literacy

Understanding the complex relationships between social structures, environmental policies, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Green Colonialism

The exploitation of land and resources under the guise of environmental protection, often at the expense of Indigenous communities.

Conservation vs. Preservation

Conservation focuses on sustainable resource management, while preservation seeks to keep nature untouched and pristine.

Gender Dynamics in Capitalism

The shifts in gender roles and labor dynamics resulting from the transition from feudalism to capitalism.

Transitional Economies

Economic systems moving from subsistence to capitalist modes, affecting relationships with nature and community structures.